Intro/Outro Music: “Feel Good” by raspberrymusic
Guests: Ann Kimbrough & Deleyna Marr…two powerhouse indie authors who’ve been living at the intersection of creativity, publishing, and technology long before most of us admitted AI was in the room.
AI isn’t coming.
It’s here.
And the indie writers who learn to use it… instead of fearing it… are about to dominate the next decade of publishing.
In this episode, Jaime, Ann, and Deleyna get brutally honest about the panic, denial, and opportunity swirling around AI in the creative world.
They unpack everything from “moral panic” panels at conferences to the hypocrisy of companies already using AI while condemning it publicly.
The conversation dives into:
Why banning AI is like banning the printing press.
How the real gatekeepers are the ones shouting “it’s immoral!”
What tools authors are quietly using…from voice acting and illustration to animation, book marketing, and discoverability.
Why next year might be the best year ever for indie authors who adapt early.
It’s raw, funny, occasionally fiery, and absolutely unfiltered…exactly what Nothing About This Is Safe was built for.
Key Highlights
AI isn’t replacing creatives — it’s replacing excuses.
Refusing to learn a tool doesn’t make you virtuous; it makes you obsolete.
Amazon’s gatekeeping is crumbling as discoverability shifts toward AI-driven search.
Real writers will rise as authenticity becomes the new SEO.
You don’t need to worship AI — just learn enough not to be afraid of it.
Favorite Moment
Anne Rice famously used a coffin as a publicity stunt during a book tour for her novel Memnoch the Devil in 1995. She rode in a glass coffin during a staged jazz funeral through Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, arriving at the Garden District Bookshop where she emerged to sign copies of her book. This dramatic entrance, consistent with her flair for theatricality, was part of her promotional efforts and became a memorable event in the city’s cultural history.
—AI search through Brave Browser
From Jaime
This isn’t a tech episode. It’s a wake-up call.
AI won’t destroy creativity…lazy thinking will.
If you’ve been avoiding this conversation, now’s the time to pull up a chair.
Join Us
If this episode made you stop pretending you’ll “learn AI someday”… good.
That means you’re done waiting for permission.
Join us at JaimeBuckley.com, where we’re building a space for honest writers who adapt, experiment, and stay human through it all.
And if you want the deep-dive follow-up essay, “Adapt or Be Forgotten,” it’s waiting for you on the paid tier.
